Live music highlights for the week of March 21, 2018.

THURSDAY 3/22

METAL

RUMBLE STEELSKIN

Rumble Steelskin is here to “kick your ass,” as guitarist Jimmy Cardarelli likes to say. Since 2014, the band has delivered gimmick-free, straight-down-the-barrel heavy metal and hard rock ’n’ roll in the vein of AC/DC, Metallica, Black Sabbath and more. This Thursday, they join local metal peers Hammerdown and Bon-Scott-era AC/DC tribute band Touch’d Too Much. Just beware of the morning after bangover. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $7. 429-4135.

FRIDAY 3/23

FUNK

DUMPSTAPHUNK

The New York Times called Dumpstaphunk “the best funk band from New Orleans right now.” That’s saying a lot, obviously, but whether or not anyone can make a definitive statement about the top New Orleans funk band, you have to admit that Dumpstaphunk brings it in a way that will make you wonder if Doc Brown sent you back in time in his DeLorean. Conceived and led by Ivan Neville, son of Aaron Neville, you won’t regret dancing your ass off to this band. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $26/adv, $30/door. 479-1854.

SATURDAY 3/24

DISCO

LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES

Los Amigos Invisibles’ high-energy live shows are the stuff of legend in countries all over the planet, from Australia to Zimbabwe. The Venezuelan group’s sound isn’t solely bouncy beats—with influences from acid jazz and psych-rock cluttering up the dance back beats, you’ll find yourself “tripping out” a little on the dance floor. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 479-1854.

SATURDAY 3/24

FOLK-ROCK

MARTIN SEXTON

One of 12 kids, singer-songwriter Martin Sexton picked up the guitar at 14. Now, 30-plus years later, Sexton is an award-winning artist known for his down-to-earth demeanor and real-deal approach to life and music. With a smooth, soulful voice that blends rock and folk, a fiercely independent spirit, and a reputation for being a musician’s musician, Sexton has built a base of loyal fans who, like him, are in it for the long haul. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $28/door. 423-1338.

SATURDAY 3/24

INDIE

VALLEY QUEEN

Singer-songwriter Natalie Carol left the security and familiarity of Little Rock, Arkansas a decade ago for the Upside Down—or as it’s better known, Los Angeles. Once there, she formed Valley Queen, combining her earnest, sort of alt-country songwriting chops with her bandmates’ music to create a sound that takes elements of ’70s Laurel Canyon folk-rock and ’80s arena rock. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $12/door. 429-6994.

SUNDAY 3/25

HAWAIIAN

KALANI PE’A

When Kalani Pe’a was diagnosed with a speech disorder at the age of 4, his parents turned to music, teaching the youngster songs to help him pronounce his words. Apparently the strategy worked—and then some. Pe’a is now a Grammy-winning artist, considered one of Hawaii’s brightest new stars. The Hilo-born, Maui-based singer-songwriter draws from the rich traditions of Hawaiian music and adds his own flair and tastes to keep traditional songs and styles alive and relevant to new generations of listeners. CJ

INFO: 7 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $23/adv, $25/door. 335-2800.

SUNDAY 3/25

CLASSICAL/FOLK

HARP FESTIVAL

Ever wanted to play a harp? You’ll get your chance this Sunday at the 13th annual Santa Cruz Harp Festival. A collaboration between the Community Music School and the MAH, the festival is an exploration of “modern and historic music from all over the world on harps of all kinds.” There will be featured artists and a harp “petting zoo.” Come early to catch the MAH’s free, interactive harp art project, “Harp Strings and Harmony,” which begins at 11 a.m. CJ

INFO: 2 p.m. Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. Free. 429-1964.

MONDAY 3/26

JAZZ

JAZZMEIA HORN

Jazzmeia Horn may not have been destined to become a jazz singer, but she admits that her given name pointed her in that direction as a musically inspired young teen. At 26, the Dallas native has quickly earned a stellar reputation in New York City as a disarmingly confident young improviser with a big, gorgeous voice and surfeit of ideas. She won a series of prestigious competitions, culminating in her 2015 triumph at the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition (with Veronica Swift and South Africa’s Vuyolwethu Sotashe taking second and third, respectively). Her debut album, 2017’s A Social Call, earned a Grammy nomination and confirmed her status as a rising star. She hits California for a series of gigs with a blazing young band featuring drummer Henry Conerway III, bassist Barry Stephenson, and pianist Keith Brown (son of piano great Donald Brown). ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 427-2227.

TUESDAY 3/27

PUNK

PUSSY RIOT

For more than half of the last decade Russian punks Pussy Riot have taken the world by storm with their pro-women message of revolution. Through music, performance art and progressive ideology Pussy Riot has challenged everything from gender norms to the Russian government and even Vladimir Putin himself. This year, they come to Santa Cruz with a punk rock show unlike any other in the midst of an international political climate that makes them seem more needed now than ever. MW

INFO: 8 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25. 429-4135.

IN THE QUEUE

SARAH ELIZABETH CHARLES

New York-based vocalist/composer. Thursday at Kuumbwa

CONTRIBUTION

Jamband supergroup. Friday at Flynn’s Cabaret

LUCY DACUS

Indie rocker out of Richmond, Virginia. Friday at Crepe Place

LOST BOYS

James Durbin and company’s final show. Friday at Catalyst

PATRICK MCGUIRE & RYE DAWN

Folk-blues duo. Saturday at Michael’s on Main

The post Music Picks Mar. 21-27 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

A trumpeter, composer and bandleader out of Leesburg, Florida, Theo Croker is a rising star who’s captured the attention of some of jazz’s biggest names for his virtuosity and innovative style. As legendary trumpeter Donald Byrd said, “There are good, great and nice musical players, but then there are phenomenal instrumentalists such as Theo. I would place Theo in a class of musicians who will redirect the flow, change and alter the current of today’s New Jazz.” Back in the States after nearly a decade living and working in China, Croker and his band, DVRK FUNK (pronounced “dark funk”), perform at the Kuumbwa on April 19. 

INFO: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $27/adv, $32/door. 427-2227. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 12 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Theo Croker appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of March 28, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 3/28

PUNK

THE DICKIES & THE QUEERS

What’s better than seeing one classic punk band? How about two? As punk rock rolls into its 40s, it’s always a treat to see any band that helped to create and define the genre. This Wednesday, seminal L.A. punks the Dickies join forces with New Hampshire originals the Queers to melt some faces and prove that when it comes to being a snotty punk, age is just a number. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $17/adv, $20/door. 429-4135.

THURSDAY 3/29

INDIE-PUNK

TITUS ANDRONICUS

According to lead singer Patrick Stickles, the latest Titus Andronicus record, A Productive Cough, is a departure from their previous work in that it contains no “punk bangers.” That’s an odd statement, considering that the group is best known for its 2010 rock opera The Monitor, which centers around the theme of the American Civil War. The album even opens with a sample of Abraham Lincoln’s Lyceum address. But, for all the album’s grandiosity, much of the music on it and their other records was punk. So in that sense he’s right. A Productive Cough, meanwhile, sounds much more like swinging, drunken sing-along bar music. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $15. 429-6994.

THURSDAY 3/29

GYPSY ROCK

DIEGO’S UMBRELLA

San Francisco’s unofficial musical ambassador of gypsy rock, Diego’s Umbrella creates floor-rattling rock ’n’ roll that hits listeners from the word go. But the band is no one-trick pony. Underneath all that rock ’n’ roll are carefully crafted vocal harmonies, tight fiddle runs, and an appreciation of international music tradition—in particular the raucous, high-energy Roma traditions, styles and techniques that have been carried down for generations. Also on the bill: Monkeyhands, a local six-piece that traverses funk, ska, blues, reggae and more. CJ

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $9/adv, $12/door. 479-1854.

THURSDAY 3/29

AMERICANA

MARLEY’S GHOST

This West Coast ensemble leans into the bluegrass realm, but steers clear of the rules of traditional string music. These guys have been playing music since the mid-’80s and create gorgeous songs with an emphasis on lush vocal harmonies. There’s a late ’60s aesthetic to the music—a little bit folk, a little bit rock, intrigued by tradition while simultaneously bucking against it. It’s some feel-good folk-rock music. AC

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S Main St., Soquel. $17/adv, $20/door. 479-9777.

FRIDAY 3/30

REGGAE/DANCEHALL

TANYA STEPHENS

An acclaimed reggae artist who has been touted as one of the best songwriters to come out of Jamaica in recent decades, Tanya Stephens is her own woman. A prolific artist, Stephens sings honest and fearlessly about life, the people around her and her unique perspective on the world, intelligently tackling social issues, including homophobia. A pioneering artist in the reggae/dancehall genre, Stephens first hit the scene with her late-’90s hit song “Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet.” She has since released numerous albums, launched an acting career, opened a restaurant and co-founded a record label. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.

SATURDAY 3/31

FOLK

PAINTED MANDOLIN

Among the plethora of Grateful Dead cover bands in the world, Painted Mandolin is a unique gem. Considering Jerry Garcia had 30 years of recorded material, it’s a breath of fresh air to see people covering his full repertoire of tunes, from his days in Old and In the Way to his folk days duetting with David Grisman—and, yes, even some Dead tunes. Just don’t expect this to be your normal GD cover show, as this night of acoustic songs stars a supergroup of musicians including Joe Craven, who played with Garcia and Grisman, Matt Hartle and Roger Sideman (China Cats), and Larry Graff (Slugs N’ Roses). MW

INFO: 8 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $20. 427-2227.

SATURDAY 3/31

ELECTRONIC

JAAP BLONK & NINA DANTE

If contemporary electronic music is your thing, strap in, friend, you’re in for a treat. Jaap Blonk, an internationally renowned sound poet, electronic musician and composer based in Holland, is joining forces with soprano Nina Dante, a vocalist with the Chicago-based Fonema Consort, for an evening of “invented languages and electronically augmented extended vocal performance.” Though one can’t be certain what exactly to expect, chances are good that it will be mind-opening, musical-boundary-stretching and thought-provoking. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Wind River, 421 Wild Way, Santa Cruz. $10/student, $15/gen. indexical.org.

MONDAY 4/2

JAZZ

JOEY DeFRANCESCO + THE PEOPLE

Joey DeFrancesco possesses more than enough technique and imagination for three organists, but the Hammond B-3 maestro isn’t content to rule the console. Touring in the wake of last year’s Grammy Award nominated Project Freedom, he’s also contributing on keyboards, trumpet and vocals. The album is DeFrancesco’s soulful manifesto about music’s role in society, and includes his expansive interpretations of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and the spiritual “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” He’s joined by the People, a quartet featuring drummer Jason Brown, guitarist Dan Wilson and saxophonist Troy Roberts. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $32/adv, $37/door. 427-2227.

TUESDAY 4/3

INDIE-POP

SURE SURE

L.A. quartet Sure Sure takes art-rock influences like Talking Heads and Vampire Weekend and mixes in dancey backbeats, odd chords and catchy pop hooks. The four-piece mixes an assortment of random instruments—they supposedly live in a crazy band house lined with cables and instruments—into a nice blend of weirdo pop music. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $12/door. 429-4135.

IN THE QUEUE

BAD LIGHT

Blues-driven stoner sludge. Wednesday at Crepe Place

TROUT STEAK REVIVAL

Colorado bluegrass outfit out of Denver. Thursday at Catalyst

ALICE DIMICELE

Singer-songwriter and her band, Force of Nature. Friday at Kuumbwa

LOOPED OUT

Producer showcase featuring Tahaj the 1st, Brycon, and Baghead. Friday at Crepe Place

AJA VU/STEALIN’ CHICAGO

Tribute to Steely Dan and Chicago. Saturday at Flynn’s Cabaret

The post Music Picks Mar. 28-Apr. 3 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

A rock ’n’ roll hall-of-famer who transformed popular music, Ray Charles left a legacy that can’t be duplicated—but that doesn’t mean we don’t love when people try. Charles gave us so many hit songs, including “Hit the Road Jack,” “I Wonder,” and “Georgia On My Mind,” to name just a few, that will be kept alive for generations to come. On April 4, a star-studded cast of Bay Area musicians, including Santana vocalist Tony Lindsay and blues guitar shredder Chris Cain, pay tribute with the Ray Charles Project. Put on your dancing shoes and celebrate the life of a legend. 

INFO: 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Friday, April 13 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Ray Charles Project appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of April 4, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 4/4

FUSION

CARLOS NAKAI

Have you ever seen Native American flute master R. Carlos Nakai in a Hawaiian shirt? I hadn’t either—until this week. But Nakai’s current quartet project is showcasing a different side of the renowned artist. The R. Carlos Nakai Quartet (RCNQ) is a fusion outfit that blends international styles and has a sonic range spanning from quiet and meditative to irresistibly groovy. Comprising Nakai on flutes, trumpet and voice; Will Clipman on drums, percussion and voice; AmoChip Dabney on saxophones, keyboards and voice; and Johnny Walker on bass and voice, the quartet brings new life and a collaborative spirit to traditional sounds. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $25. 335-2800.

WEDNESDAY 4/4

ROCK

GETAWAY DOGS

For the last five years, the “cushy bedroom psychedelic bossanova” of the Getaway Dogs has provided dreamy tunes for Santa Cruzans to sit back and relax to. Fresh off their performance at the Santa Cruz Music Festival, this Wednesday the Dogs return to the Crepe Place with friends Spooky Mansion for a night of mystic melodies and floating fantasies. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.

WEDNESDAY 4/4

POP/ROOTS

MARIA MULDAUR

An acclaimed artist who topped the charts with her 1974 hit song “Midnight at the Oasis,” Maria Muldaur expanded her musical footprint to include roots, folk, blues, bluegrass and more. With a whopping 40 albums to her name, Muldaur has been a familiar presence on the pop music scene for the last four decades. Her latest project, dubbed “Jazzabelle,” is described as an “intimate evening of naughty

bawdy blues and vintage classic jazz.” CJ

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. $20. 479-9777.

THURSDAY 4/5

FUNK

MAIN SQUEEZE

In its early days, funk band the Main Squeeze fancied itself a party band over at Indiana University, where, we can assume, they provided the soundtrack to many a debaucherous late night. Times have changed, and the funketeers have matured, but they’re no less dancey. They hit the road with Santa Cruz as one of their stops, and an incredible new album waiting in the wings. Produced by Randy Jackson (The guy who used to say “Dawg” on American Idol), Without A Sound is a personal, emotive grooving record with a heavy dose of funk and a splash of rock and soul. AARON CARNES

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $15/door. 479-1854.

THURSDAY 4/5

FADO

ANTÓNIO ZAMBUJO

Acclaimed Portuguese guitarist and fado singer António Zambujo is part of a long line of many outstanding fado singers that includes the legendary Mariza and Dulce Pontes. A star whose 2002 debut album, O Mesmo Fado, garnered him critical acclaim and “Best New Fado Voice” honors from Radio Nova FM, Zambujo went on to become an internationally known sensation and recipient of even more awards, including the prestigious Amália Rodrigues Prize by the Amália Rodrigues Foundation in the category of “Best Male Fado Singer.” CJ

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 427-2227.

FRIDAY 4/6

COUNTRY

DEVIL MAKES THREE

Your eyes do not deceive you! Santa Cruz’s prodigal sons (and daughter) are coming home to spread their roots and rock the Catalyst again. This is one band that needs no introduction as they have been a hometown favorite for nearly two decades, blending the folky sounds of the Santa Cruz Mountains with blues, jazz, honky tonk and a little bit of country swagger. MW

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $35. 429-4135.

SATURDAY 4/7

ROCK

AL JARDINE

When you think of the Beach Boys, who comes to mind? Brian Wilson, of course, and his various brothers (and asshole cousin Mike Love). But hey, don’t forget Al Jardine! He’s an original member, and every bit the fantastic, dreamy singer that the Wilsons were. In 2010, he released his official debut studio album, A Postcard From California. It was recorded in Big Sur with some local musicians and some amazing guests (Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Steve Miller). It’s sunny, poppy, and everything else you’d want from an original Beach Boys member. AC

INFO: 7 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $33.50/adv, $49.25/door. 423-8209.

SATURDAY 4/7

ROCK

STONEFIELD

Raised in Australia on their parents’ vast record collection, which includes everything from Deep Purple to Zappa, the four hard-rocking sisters of Stonefield not only absorbed the wide scope of classic rock’s heyday, but also developed an instinctual chemistry that sounds as natural as breathing. AC

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $8/adv, $10/door. 429-4135.

SUNDAY 4/8

JAZZ

LEE RITENOUR WITH DAVE GRUSIN

When it comes to paying the rent, it’s safe to assume that Dave Grusin doesn’t need this gig. The pianist spent four decades as an A-list Hollywood film composer, with a gaudy list of credits from 1967’s Divorce American Style and 1973’s Robert Mitchum classic The Friends of Eddie Coyle to his Oscar-winning score for 1988’s The Milagro Beanfield War and my personal favorite, the rollicking piano-driven soundtrack for 1993’s The Firm. He co-founded the extremely successful label GRP, which released around a dozen albums by Lee Ritenour, an accomplished guitarist with a passion for Brazilian music. The longtime friends have been touring together in recent years, a partnership that brings out the burnished lyricism of both players. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 and 9 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $35-$47. 427-2227.

IN THE QUEUE

SIX STRING PHARMACY

“Acoustic power duo” out of Monterey County. Thursday at Henflings

JACK TEMPCHIN

Legendary songwriter behind numerous Eagles hits. Thursday at Flynn’s Cabaret

GRATEFUL BLUEGRASS BOYS

String band tribute to Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones and the Dead. Friday at Michael’s on Main

DON CARLOS

Reggae legend. Friday and Saturday at Moe’s Alley

GODDAMN GALLOWS

Rockabilly, psychobilly, punk and bluegrass. Sunday at Catalyst

The post Music Picks Apr. 4-11 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Tony Lindsay barely needs an introduction for Bay Area music lovers. As lead vocalist for Santana for 25 years, and a multi-faceted bandleader in his own right, Lindsay is a familiar presence on the local scene. Lindsay’s latest project, Black Magic, sees him collaborating with an ace band, including standout blues guitarist Chris Cain. The band traverses blues, soul and jazz and shines a light on Lindsay’s award-winning vocal chops. 

INFO: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 427-2227. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 24 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Tony Lindsay presents: Black Magic appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of April 11, 2018.

THURSDAY 4/12

BLUEGRASS

COFFEE ZOMBIE COLLECTIVE

Have you ever wondered what Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” would sound like as a bluegrass song? How about Wham’s “Careless Whisper,” or Guns ’n’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine?” Well, just go check out local favorites Coffee Zombie Collective. They play high energy, sing-along bluegrass versions of all your favorite guilty pleasure karaoke songs, as well as obscure indie tunes. (“In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” by Neutral Milk Hotel, anyone?). The thing is, the group isn’t really technically bluegrass. With the standard string instruments and a ukulele, a trumpet, a kick bass drum, and a lot of unhinged fun, it’s just a blast in a very Santa Cruz, rule-breaking kind of way. AARON CARNES

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S. Main, Soquel. $12/adv, $15/door. 479-9777.

THURSDAY 4/12

NERDCORE

MC CHRIS

For anyone rifling through the names of nerd rappers and looking for a good starting point, you can’t do much better than MC Chris, whose weird high-pitched voice, geek culture references, and DIY beats will have you basking in nerdiness in pure ecstasy. I mean, the multiple Star Wars-themed songs alone earn him a seat at the throne. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $17/door. 429-4135.

THURSDAY & FRIDAY 4/12 & 4/13

HIP-HOP

SOB X RBE

SOB x RBE (which stands for “Strictly Only Brothers Real Boi Entertainment”) hail from Vallejo, and have blown up into international stars in just a few short years, starting with the release of last year’s self-titled mixtape. This year looks even more promising as the hip hop quartet released their debut full-length, Gangin, in February to critical acclaim and were featured on the Black Panther soundtrack, produced by the current king of hip-hop, Kendrick Lamar. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 429-4135.

FRIDAY 4/13

JAZZ

DIANNE REEVES

Friday the 13th is your lucky day. Lucky, that is, if you procure tickets to see newly minted NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves, a vocalist with a sound so sumptuously beautiful she banishes all thoughts of ill fortune. Usually heard in concert halls and theaters, Reeves rarely plays intimate spaces like Kuumbwa, a venue with which she shares decades of history. She’s joined by her incomparable band, including longtime pianist and music director Peter Martin and Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo, a jazz giant in his own right. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 and 9 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $45-$60. 427-2227.

FRIDAY 4/13

TRIBUTE

SUN KINGS

The Sun Kings pay tribute to the Beatles as authentically as possible by recreating the legendary band’s music, note for note, exactly as it was recorded. Rather than relying on costumes and caricatures, the Sun Kings rely on the members’ technical and melodic expertise and commitment to getting the songs just right. Considered one of the premier Beatles tribute bands in the country, the Sun Kings boast a repertoire of over 150 songs. The Kings are currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of The White Album with performances up and down the West Coast. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 8 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $22/adv, $25/door. 335-2800.

SATURDAY 4/14

FUNK

GHOST-NOTE

Drummer Robert “Sput” Searight and percussionist Nate Werth are the driving heart of the Grammy winning jazz and funk collective Snarky Puppy. They’re also the masterminds behind Ghost-Note, a “conscious funk” outfit that spotlights their tremendous skills and chemistry, and also gives the rotating cast of all-star band members plenty of space to do what they do best. With a combined resumé that includes work with Norah Jones, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, David Crosby, Q-Tip and more, these two are quiet powerhouses of the music world. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door. 479-1854.

SUNDAY 4/15

JAZZ

REBIRTH BRASS BAND

The Rebirth Brass Band is steeped in the tradition of New Orleans jazz, and over the last 35 years has infused funk and hip-hop, among other genres, into its sound. The band’s unique swing has earned them special acclaim in pop culture, leading to an appearance on HBO’s Treme, and a 2012 Grammy Award. The members’ infectious playing commands even the grumpiest of people to shake their hips and swing their feet. MW

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 479-1854.

MONDAY 4/16

COUNTRY

BIRDCLOUD

This Nashville duo plays twangy satirical songs, which isn’t necessarily anything new, but the brazen crudeness with which they do it is either unsettling or hilarious, depending on your personality. With songs like “Warshin’ My Big Ol’ Pussy,” “Saving Myself For Jesus,” “Indianer” and “Black Guys,” the twosome crosses the line of good taste a thousand times over, and lets the listener deal with their songs’ implicit irony without any wink-winks to ease the comic tension. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door. 429-6994.

TUESDAY 4/17

ROCK

DIXIE DREGS

Formed in Augusta, Georgia in the 1970s, the Dixie Dregs helped shape a generation of boundary-pushing rock with a mostly-instrumental blend of hard rock, Southern rock, progressive metal, and classical music. Led by guitarist/composer Steve Morse of Deep Purple, and bass guitarist and composer Andy West, the Dregs remain a “loose collection” of former members who join forces for performances, studio projects and tours. CJ

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $50. 423-8209.

IN THE QUEUE

STELLA BY BARLIGHT

Standout local jazz vocalist and her band. Wednesday at Crow’s Nest

ROCK COLLECTION

All-star jam band led by Melvin Seals. Friday at Moe’s Alley

SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX

Contemporary pop hits reimagined as doo-wop, ragtime and Motown sounds. Saturday at Rio Theatre

ANDRE THIERRY & ZYDECO MAGIC

Acclaimed Zydeco act. Saturday at Michael’s on Main

ALBOROSIE

Italian reggae artist. Saturday at Catalyst

The post Music Picks Apr. 11-17 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Described as a “conscious revolutionary lyricist,” award-winning artist Kabaka Pyramid blends reggae and hip-hop to present messages of spiritual evolution, positivity and global unity. Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, Kabaka—which is Ugandan for “king”—acts as a bridge between roots reggae and African music, and the contemporary and future pop and underground styles. 

INFO: 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 2. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 24, to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Kabaka Pyramid appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of April 18, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 4/18

ROCK

LOS LONELY BOYS

Purveyors of “Texican rock ’n’ roll,” three brothers from San Angelo, Texas—Henry, Jojo and Ringo Garza—emerged on the local music scene in the 1990s. Since then, they’ve slowly but steadily established their band Los Lonely Boys as one of the premier American Chicano rock outfits. Blending rock, country, blues, Tejano and brown-eyed soul, the group has carved a unique place for itself in pop music and gone from a small Texas family band to a Grammy-winning international sensation. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 8 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $28/gen, $43/gold. 423-8209.

WEDNESDAY 4/18

FUNK & SOUL

DIRTY REVIVAL

With cool grooves, impeccable instrumentation, and soul for days, Dirty Revival is a rising star of the underground funk and roots scene. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, the seven-piece has gone from a basement party band to one of the city’s standout acts. Led by vocalist and frontwoman extraordinaire Sarah Clark, Dirty Revival reworks classics and drops irresistibly funky originals driven by horns, tight percussion and Clark’s powerful, engaging voice. Also on the bill: Post Street Rhythm Peddlers. CJ

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 479-1854.

THURSDAY 4/19

PSYCH ROCK

DEAD MEADOW

Although their brand-spanking-new album is called The Nothing They Need, Dead Meadow’s two-decade-spanning career testifies to the fact that they are definitely something. Formed in the indie rock scene of D.C. in 1998, the psych-rock trio (sometimes quartet) has rocketed listeners into twistedly dizzying dimensions of sight and sound. No strangers to Santa Cruz, Dead Meadow requires you to be prepared for a mind-melting show that will leave you wondering just exactly what that bartender put in your drink. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door. 429-4135.

THURSDAY 4/19

ALT-LATIN

TROPA MAGICA

The members of Tropa Magica describe the band’s recent single, “LSD Roma,” as “psychedelic Norteño.” It’s not hard to see how this description fits with what the East L.A. group is pulling off in their music. It’s got the authentic Norteño rhythms driving the songs, but also sounds like they’ve been beamed straight from outer space. The group is new, but the members have been messing with traditional forms of Mexican music for a while, most notably with their band Thee Commons, which can best be described as “punk cumbia.” With Tropa Magica, they seem to be stretching the limits even further. AARON CARNES

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 479-1854.

FRIDAY 4/20

NEW WAVE

GLOVE

Back in the early ’80s, the line between punk rock and New Wave could be a very thin one. But as New Wave bands veered toward pop, you could hear a heavier embracing of synthesizers and pop hooks. New Tampa, Florida quartet Glove seems to have traveled back in time to find that crack that barely distinguished the genres and planted themselves there. They pile ’80s synth onto punky guitars, then add poppy vocals and a punk rock sneer. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8. 429-6994.

SATURDAY 4/21

BLUES

ROBERT CRAY BAND

A music journalist once described the Robert Cray Band as “blues-like,” and although this may seem like a dis, it really is one of the best ways to describe them. Cray has had an illustrious, 40-year career, and has played alongside blues greats like Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy and even Stevie Ray Vaughan the night of his tragic death. However, the RCB blends a cocktail that is equal parts blues, soul, gospel and jazz, shaken up and served chilled with a twist that’s all their own. MW

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $49. 423-8209.

SATURDAY 4/21

PSYCHEDELIC

WOODEN SHJIPS

For the past decade, San Francisco’s Wooden Shjips has been bringing experimental, droning sounds to the psych scene. But as out-there as the group can get, there’s always an easygoing, laid-back charm to its music that feels like cracking open a beer and watching the sun rise on a lonely, contemplative Sunday morning. The latest record, the aptly titled V (yes, their fifth album), goes for an even easier-feeling sound that’s almost folk-rock. The double meaning of the album title V. is that it’s a graphic rendering of the peace symbol, something the band feels is needed in today’s negativite environment—and the music fully embodies that philosophy. AC

INFO: 8 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S. Main, Soquel. $20. 479-9777.

MONDAY 4/23

JAZZ

WILLIE JONES III QUINTET

A drummer who combines impeccable taste with irrepressible joy, Willie Jones III has spent the past 25 years carving out a stellar career as a sideman with jazz greats (Milt Jackson, Horace Silver, Michael Brecker, and Sonny Rollins, for starters) and a bandleader in his own right. More than an all-star ensemble, Jones’ quintet brings together a cast of fellow bandleaders, including trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, a fellow Los Angeles native, pianist Eric Reed, bassist Gerald Cannon, and saxophonist Ralph Moore, one of the definitive players of the 1980s who’s been gaining visibility after 15 years in the band for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $35/door. 427-2227.

TUESDAY 4/24

INTERNATIONAL

VIEUX FARKA TOURE

As the story goes, legendary Malian singer and multi-instrumentalist Ali Farka Touré didn’t want his son to follow his footsteps into the music business. But the elder Touré didn’t get his way. His son Vieux Farka Touré followed his father’s lead and has become the torchbearer of the family’s musical tradition. Nicknamed the “Hendrix of the Sahara,” Touré honors his father’s legacy and keeps Malian music alive while blending it with rock, Latin music, and other African influences to create something timely and relevant for today’s international music scene. CJ

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $30/adv, $40/door. 427-2227.

IN THE QUEUE

JOE KAPLOW

Bay Area by-way-of New Jersey singer-songwriter. Wednesday at Crepe Place

BASTARD SONS OF JOHNNY CASH

Alt-country standout. Thursday at Michael’s on Main

HOUSE OF FLOYD

Mind-melting Pink Floyd tribute. Friday at Rio Theatre

URIAH HEEP

Pioneering prog-rock band out of the U.K.. Saturday at Catalyst

BLACK UHURU

Legendary reggae group. Tuesday at Flynn’s Cabaret

The post Music Picks April 18-24 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Possessing a sound that incorporates elements of Motown, funk, R&B and reggae, the Wailing Souls are elder statesmen of Jamaica’s island music sound. Formed in the late 1960s under the mentorship of musical icon Joe Higgs, and eventually famed Jamaican producer Coxsone Dodd, the group has been a fixture on the international reggae scene for decades. It’s also received numerous awards and three Grammy nominations. The band continues to tour the world spreading its message of one love. Also on the bill: Dub Nation. 

INFO: 9 p.m. Sunday, May 20. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $30/door. 479-1854. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Monday, May 14 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Wailing Souls appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Music highlights for the week of April 25, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 4/25

ROOTS

MISS TESS & THE TALKBACKS

With a sound that Paste Magazine described as “decidedly old school,” Miss Tess and her ace band the Talkbacks pull from traditional country, blues, R&B and swamp rock styles, then give them a modern day kick in the ass that makes them as relevant as ever. Based in Nashville, the band is an audience favorite, known for high-energy, rowdy shows; an old-meets-new musical ethos; and a deep respect for American roots music traditions. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 8 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

WEDNESDAY 4/25

ROCK

KEVIN BRENNAN & WAVELENGTH

Kevin Brennan has played with Van Morrison off and on throughout the ’60s and the ’80s. The two even played together in their home country of Ireland in a not-very-well-known band called the Great Eight in the ’60s. Needless to say, if someone is going to put together a Van Morrison tribute band, it should probably be Brennan. Not only does Brennan have a similar tattered voice, but he captures Morrison’s essence in his renditions of the songs. AARON CARNES

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S. Main St., Soquel. $10. 479-9777.

SATURDAY 4/28

PUNK

FACE TO FACE

You can’t keep a good punk down. Don’t believe us? Then just look at Southern California punk quartet Face to Face. Forged in the fledgling beginnings of the 1990s, Face to Face was one of the pioneer skate punk bands to create the sound of an era alongside groups like Lagwagon and the Offspring. Much to fans’ dismay, they called it quits in 2004 after 13 solid years of music, touring and punk rock shenanigans. Four years later, though, they reunited for a few shows, and decided to carry on into the future. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25. 429-4135.

SATURDAY 4/28

HIP-HOP

LYRICS BORN

When you look up “underground hip-hop” in the dictionary, you will see a picture of Bay Area rapper Lyrics Born. Not really, but that’s what should be in the damn dictionary, despite the fact that the rapper poked his head into the mainstream briefly with his song “Callin’ Out.” To get a real sense of Lyrics Born’s diverse accomplishments, go ahead and give his greatest hits record Now Look What You’ve Done, Lyrics Born! Greatest Hits a spin. It really shows how the rapper helped to define straightforward Bay Area alt-hip-hop with his funky beats, sing-song-y flow and personal words, and then how he wasn’t afraid to change it up in the years to follow. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.

SUNDAY 4/29

FOLK/ROCK

ERIC ANDERSEN

Over his 50-year artistic journey, singer-songwriter Eric Andersen has had his hands—and songs—all over folk and rock music. He has 25 of his own albums, which feature icons such as Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Lou Reed and Richard Thompson. Andersen has also had his songs covered by a long list of legendary artists, from Bob Dylan and Françoise Hardy, to the Grateful Dead, Peter, Paul and Mary, Gillian Welch and Pete Seeger. CJ

INFO: 2 p.m. Michaels on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. $17/adv, $20/door. 479-9777.

SUNDAY 4/29

CELTIC

LINSEY AITKEN & KEN CAMPBELL

Celtic music is a term that gets thrown around to describe traditional acoustic music from the United Kingdom, and to a lot of people it means Irish music specifically. But what do you know about Scottish music? If you’d like a primer on contemporary Scottish acoustic music, you would be doing yourselves a favor by checking out Linsey Aitken and Ken Campbell. Aitken is a revered cellist and vocalist, and Campbell is a well-regarded singer-songwriter. The two have been working for three decades, and bridge the gap between classical Scottish traditional music, and new acoustic music beloved by its people. AC

INFO: 7 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $17. 335-2800.

SUNDAY 4/29

HIP-HOP

PROF

When discussing Minneapolis rappers, three names come to mind: Atmosphere, Brother Ali and, of course, Prof. Although he performed throughout the early 2000s, it wasn’t until the turn of the last decade that audiences finally caught up and paid attention. Through his relentless rhymes and constant gigging, Prof was able to build his name up in the underground, selling out clubs that other Minnesotan acts—*cough Prince*—had made famous 30 years before. MW

INFO: 7 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $14/adv, $16/door. 429-4135.

SUNDAY 4/29

ROOTS

CRYSTAL BOWERSOX

Hailing from Nashville by-way-of Ohio, singer-songwriter Crystal Bowersox is a lifelong artist whose love of music and performing developed early. Honing her guitar and vocal chops on Chicago’s underground subway platforms as a teen, Bowersox eventually made her way onto season nine of American Idol. Since then, her star has continued to rise with several studio albums, EPs and singles. Her latest, 2017’s Alive, sees the multi-dimensional artist traversing folk, Americana, blues, pop, and soul. CJ

INFO: 7 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $25/adv, $35/door. 427-2227.

MONDAY 4/30

TERENCE BLANCHARD’S E-COLLECTIVE

Terence Blanchard’s politically charged E-Collective is playing a series of gigs around the region this week, and for International Jazz Day the talent-laden band brings its richly textured electro-acoustic sound to Santa Cruz. The band’s poignant new album Live is a searing reflection on America’s inability to stem the bloody tide of gun violence, filtered through Blanchard’s New Orleans music-as-balm sensibility. Featuring pianist extraordinaire Gerald Clayton (filling in for Fabian Almazan), Berkeley High grad Charles Altura on guitar, newcomer David “DJ” Ginyard on bass, and drummer Oscar Seaton, whose slinky grooves inspired Blanchard to launch the E-Collective, the quintet blows apart forms to get at deeper feelings. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 and 9 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $28-$44. 427-2227.

IN THE QUEUE

NORDIC FIDDLERS BLOC

Traditional music from Norway, Sweden and the Shetland Islands. Wednesday at Flynn’s Cabaret

ENGLISH BEAT

Legendary U.K. ska band. Friday at Moe’s Alley

VAN GOAT

Catchy blend of swing, surf and punk. Friday at Crepe Place

METALACHI

Metal meets mariachi. Saturday at Catalyst

SUGARAY RAYFORD

Blues singer, songwriter and entertainer extraordinaire. Sunday at Moe’s Alley

The post Music Picks April 25-May 1 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Drummer Scott Amendola is a fixture on the contemporary jazz scene, a Bay Area-based artist who works up and down the West Coast as well as in New York. With a resume that includes work with jazz greats Charlie Hunter and John Zorn, Amendola has long been a bandleader himself, bringing his unique vision and artistry to life in the group setting. On May 21, Amendola joins forces with Wil Blades on organ and clavinet, Jeff Parker on guitar and Cyro Baptista on percussion. Santa Cruz native and Grammy-nominated composer, pianist and producer Pascal Le Boeuf shares the evening’s bill, presenting the West Coast premiere of his Chamber Music America commission “Ritual Being,” featuring San Francisco’s Friction Quartet. 

INFO: 7 p.m. Monday, May 21. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $28.35/adv, $33.60/door. 427-2227. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Monday, May 14 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Amendola vs. Blades vs. Parker vs. Baptista appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of May 2, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 5/2

BLUEGRASS

TONY FURTADO TRIO

A multi-instrumentalist with a pro handle on banjo, guitar, ukulele and more, Tony Furtado is a longtime favorite of roots music fans. He’s a skillful singer-songwriter who defies categorization, consistently putting out genre-bending music that spans bluegrass, jazz, folk and rock. With a well-developed picking technique that’s been described as “rapid-fire quick, sharp and clear,” Furtado stands apart as an artist who balanced traditional and progressive styles into something all his own. Joining Furtado are multi-instrumentalist Luke Price and mandolinist John Reischman. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michaels on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. $17/adv, $20/door. 479-9777.

WEDNESDAY 5/2

EXPERIMENTAL

BOB LOG III

Delta blues is a style of music that evokes a primitive, swampy sound that will make you feel like you woke up in the early 1900s and are living in an electricity-free barn. That is, unless it’s being played by half-robot-half-man Bob Log III, whose version of the music sounds like it immigrated from Mars. In fact, Log looks like he emigrated from there himself, dressed in the kind of spacesuit people in the ’50s imagined we’d all be wearing in 2018. On top of all that, he’s a one-man-band, and no one normal ever decided they were going to start a one-man-band. AARON CARNES

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door. 429-6994.

THURSDAY 5/3

HIP-HOP

BLACKALICIOUS

For anyone left on the “hip-hop isn’t art” bandwagon (how is that still even a thing in 2018?), go see Blackalicious at the Catalyst this Thursday. Formed in Davis in the early ’90s by MC Gift of Gab and DJ Chief Xcel, Blackalicious is known as one of the most talented and complex hip-hop groups ever, by critics and fans alike. Quite an amazing feat for a duo that only has four albums over 20 years. However, it’s easy to see once listening to Xcel’s futuristic beats and Gab’s mind-numbing metaphors delivered in a torrential downpour of tongue twisters. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m, Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $17/adv, $20/door. 429-4135.

FRIDAY 5/4

INDIE-BLUES

HILLSTOMP

One person’s trash is another person’s musical instrument—or so goes the thinking of Henry Hill Kammerer and John “Lord Buckets” Johnson, the artists behind junkbox-blues duo Hillstomp. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Hillstomp’s pioneering brand of indie-blues includes homemade instruments, found sounds and upcycled buckets, cans, lids and whatever else might sound good. The kicker, however, is the chemistry and passion of Kammerer and Johnson, which is absolutely mesmerizing. If DIY art and music are your thing, this band is not to be missed. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $12/door. 429-6994.

FRIDAY 5/4

COUNTRY

SUNNY SWEENEY & WARD DAVIS

Sunny Sweeney has the kind of name that suggests America’s sweetheart. But don’t let the name fool you; she writes the kind of honky-tonk music that would be best suited to bars with iron wiring covering the stage. Her song “Everybody Else Can Kiss My Ass” tells you pretty much everything you need to know about where she’s coming from. Sweeney is touring with Ward Davis, whose brand of country is more of the low-key, miserable variety. There aren’t any good guys in his songs. The two will give you an evening of music that you won’t likely hear on popular country radio, but that’s just because there’s no soul in mainstream country anymore. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door, $100/VIP, 479-1854.

SATURDAY 5/5

POP/RAP

DESSA

A singer, writer and rapper who NPR described as “breaking the rules of rap,” Dessa is a multi-dimensionals artists whose accomplishments so far include co-composing for a 100-voice choir; four million streams of her track, “Congratulations” on The Hamilton Mixtape; being published in New York Times Magazine; a new book set for release later this year; and much more. Dessa’s new album, Chime, showcases the uber-talented artist’s easy embrace of “rap noir,” ballads and pop jams, as well as her magnetic presence, fiery ethos and compelling delivery. This Saturday, Dessa and her band bring the show to the Rio. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $18. 423-8209.

MONDAY 5/7

KURT ELLING AND MARQUIS HILL

Much like the late great Mark Murphy, a formative influence, vocalist Kurt Elling turns each project and recording into an opportunity to explore new sonic and emotional terrain. One needn’t embrace every investigation to appreciate Elling’s artistry and intrepid spirit. His latest album The Questions is a serious meditation on our current unpleasantness, featuring a brilliant cast of guest artists (including rising Chicago trumpeter Marquis Hill, who’s touring with Elling). As the title suggests, Elling is looking for answers more than delivering a manifesto, joined by his top-shelf band featuring longtime guitarist John McLean, Stu Mindeman on piano and organ, bassist Clark Sommers, and the impressive young drummer Christian Euman. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 and 9 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $31.50-$47.25. 427-2227.

MONDAY 5/7

INDIE

RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE

Rainbow Kitten Surprise sounds like the kind of band that is obsessed with American roots music, but has never stepped foot in the U.S.—an interpretation of an interpretation of an interpretation. In reality, the five-piece hails from the Americanest of states, North Carolina, but the members have nonetheless mastered the skill of hocking all their Americana, country and R&B influences into a spittoon until it comes out sounding like a lost collaboration between Modest Mouse and the Kings of Leon—but weirder. AC

INFO: 8 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25. 429-4135.

IN THE QUEUE

KABAKA PYRAMID

Rising reggae star out of Jamaica. Wednesday at Moe’s Alley

TONY LINDSAY’S BLACK MAGIC

Bay Area vocal favorite and standout guitarist Chris Cain. Thursday at Kuumbwa

BE NATURAL MUSIC YOUTH ROCK CONCERT

Local bands benefit the Be Natural Music scholarship program. Saturday at Louden Nelson

ACHILLES WHEEL

California rock ’n’ roll. Saturday at Flynn’s Cabaret

PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS

Long-running hip-hop group out of Los Angeles. Sunday at Catalyst

The post Music Picks May 2-8 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

A Chicano band from East L.A., Las Cafeteras blends traditional Mexican music with Afro-Mexican styles, storytelling, spoken word, folk music, and zapateado dancing. The band members’ collective social conscience is front and center in the music with songs and stories of the civil rights movement, United Farm Workers, the DREAM Act, immigration reform and more. Las Cafeteras comes to Santa Cruz as part of Carnaval the Tour, a four-week tour celebrating Carnaval, the folk traditions of Latin America, and the “resilience of the human spirit.” Also on the bill: Making Moves and Alex Cuba. 

INFO: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 24. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20. 479-1854. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 17 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Las Cafeteras appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of May 9, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 5/9

HIP-HOP

JOEY BADA$$

How many artists can claim eight years of success in the music industry at only 23 years old? Joey Bada$$ can. The native New Yorker was discovered by the president of the Cinematic Music Group at the young age of 15 after uploading a freestyle video to YouTube. Since then he has released three mixtapes, two full-length albums—the most recent being last year’s All-Amerikkkan Bada$$—and has appeared as the recurring protector/agent Leon on the hit hacker TV show Mr. Robot. Bada$$’s old school beats and lyrical dexterity will be joined by Boogie, Buddy and Chuck Strangers. MAT WEIR

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $25-$125. 429-4135.

WEDNESDAY 5/9

COUNTRY

LAURA BENITEZ

A fixture on the Bay Area rockabilly/country scene, Laura Benitez & the Heartache tell no-bullshit tales of love, drinking and life on the road. Traversing old time waltzes, driving rockabilly styles, honky tonk, classic country and more, the band shares, as one reviewer put it, “the simple, unvarnished truth.” Rich harmonies and spacious arrangements set this outfit apart from the pack of regional roots bands. Benitez and company perform at the Crepe Place to kick off the return of the popular Western Wednesday series. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 8 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

WEDNESDAY 5/9

INDIE

ROGUE WAVE

Last year, Oakland-based indie rock outfit Rogue Wave released Cover Me, a collection of cover songs from the ’80s. It includes everything from the Cure (“In Between Days”) to Kim Carnes (“Bette Davis Eyes”) to ZZ Top (“Sharp Dressed Man”). Their interpretations of the songs reveal their well-tread songwriting style, which oscillates between arena rock stylings and bedroom pop subtleties. AARON CARNES

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $18/adv, $20/door. 479-1854.

FRIDAY 5/11

VOCALS

LIZZ WRIGHT

With her languorous phrasing, surfeit of soul, and voluptuous sound, Lizz Wright’s music has always felt directly tied to her Southern upbringing. But her sixth album, Grace, was inspired by a road trip she took to put her back in touch with her roots after years of living in Brooklyn. Her singular mélange of jazz, folk and soul music gives every song she interprets a numinous glow, whether she’s cradling the standard “Stars Fell on Alabama” or slow-dancing through Dylan’s born-again anthem “Every Grain of Sand.” Among the most extraordinary vocalists working in American music, Wright never seems to make a wrong musical move. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $47.25/adv, $52.50/door. 427-2227.

FRIDAY 5/11

ROOTS

POKEY LAFARGE

Singer-songwriter Pokey LaFarge burst onto the roots music landscape in 2013 with the release of a self-titled album on Jack White’s Third Man Records. But LaFarge was no newcomer to music. At the time, he already had a handful of solid releases under his belt and had established himself as a compelling character in the music world, with a look straight out of 1940s America, and a throwback sound to match. LaFarge has since proven himself to be a real-deal artist whose Midwestern ethos and songwriting chops keep him top-of-mind in a new generation of Americana artists. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 423-1338.

SATURDAY 5/12

PUNK

GOOD RIDDANCE/SWINGIN’ UTTERS

A decade ago it would’ve been impossible to see these Santa Cruz bands play anywhere, let alone together in their hometown. Luckily, you can’t keep good punks down and both bands have come out of retirement—or hiatus, in Swingin’ Utters’ case—to keep the fire of rebellion burning in a very strange, second decade of the 21st Century. MW

INFO: 8:30 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $20. 429-4135.

SATURDAY 5/12

ZYDECO

CREOLE BELLES

Zydeco music, and creole culture in general, is a distinctly American thing that for some reason is relatively unknown to most folks outside of Louisiana. It’s an upbeat style of dance music that is generally accordion-driven and has an infectious shuffle to it, along with soulful melodies. And yes, even with all that accordion in there, it will make you dance with abandon. The Creole Belles are a California-based all-women band that despite their California-ness bring the authenticity of Southern Louisiana to the stage with them every night. They released their debut album a decade ago, and it is everything you’d ever want in a Cajun record. AC

INFO: 2 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. $12/adv, $15/door. 479-9777.

MONDAY 5/14

INDIE-FOLK

HORSE FEATHERS

Beautifully blending indie rock, folk and Americana, Horse Feathers is a quiet standout of the underground music scene. Led by singer-songwriter Justin Ringle, the Portland, Oregon-based band has a reputation for weaving strings, warm and insightful lyrics, folk styles and an indie ethos into something lovely and timeless. On its new release, Appreciation, Horse Feathers explores somewhat unfamiliar territory, adding a new rhythm section and touches of Northern Soul to its sound. The album is already eliciting excitement from critics and fans eager to follow the band down whatever stylistic journey it takes us on. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15/adv, $17/door. 335-2800.

IN THE QUEUE

ANDY HEDGES

Singer, songwriter and cowboy poet. Friday at Flynn’s Cabaret

HANK & ELLA

Local purveyors of “vintage country music.” Friday at Crepe Place

RAYBURN BROTHERS

Monterey Bay-based singer-songwriter siblings. Friday at Michael’s on Main

DEVA PREMAL & MITEN

Celebrated chant masters. Sunday at Rio Theatre

LARRY CARLTON

Acclaimed jazz and rock guitarist. Tuesday at Kuumbwa

The post Music Picks May 9-15 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Harrison Murphy was jealous of his friend Randy Schwartz. As both of them were longtime drummers, he couldn’t help but feel envious that Schwartz got to study rhythms and techniques with UCSC’s George Marsh, a man who refers to his own cutting-edge style as “Tai Chi for the drum set.”

“He was a very far-out guy,” says Murphy. “A very unique teacher who presented musical improvisation in a very different way, and I think that’s a big reason why I wanted to know what it was, because it was so different from everything else that I’d studied.”

So they made a deal: Schwartz would teach Murphy everything he had learned from Marsh, and Murphy would teach Schwartz everything he knew about another instrument he played, keyboards. The arrangement started their partnership, but what came out of it turned out to be very different.

“That literally never happened,” says Murphy of their initial plan. “We just got together and started a band.”

That band is El Duo, and though the pair met in Santa Cruz, where they attended college, they now live in Oakland. Murphy still plays drums in the Santa Cruz band Harry and the Hitmen.

While Schwartz and Murphy may have not formally taught each other musical techniques, they share an unusual approach to rhythm that was a perfect foundation on which to build El Duo. There are a lot of global influences in the beats, including traditional African and Indian music, and American jazz. It’s mixed with old drum machines and modern electronic loops.

“We’ve both been really drawn to rhythmic music coming from places around the world,” Murphy says. “That desire for those types of sounds and grooves, we were both already interested in that.”

The resulting sound is pretty out there. There’s a seamless psychedelic blend of acoustic instruments and computers that is equal parts danceable and heady, and it inspires wildly varying audience reactions.

“Sometimes there’s five people and we still get them dancing, sometimes there’s more and everybody’s sitting down. It’s hard to know,” Murphy says. “We can do the background thing really well, where people are having dinner and we just kind of play quietly and have it be interesting weird music in the background. Then we also can throw an all-out dance party where we crank everything up.”

The live set is made that much more unique by their two-piece set up, which involves real instruments as well as triggers that kick off loops. The two of them improvise quite a bit, and give each set its own unique vibe.

“We have certain things that are programmed in the drum machine, and those things aren’t going to change, but the way that Randy uses them is going to change,” Murphy says. “The way we respond to each other and the crowd, it’s always a little bit different. Eighty to 90 percent of it is really loose and we have some things that build up and then we play the main melody and it breaks off with solos, and we see what happens.”

The group recorded its first EP, El Key, in 2016 with a recording studio class in Emeryville. They improvised a bit during the process, and then cut, edited and re-recorded more material on their own to create that record.

The band is releasing its new EP Mono Y Mono at this coming Crepe Place show. They will be selling vinyl records at the show, and sometime later will have it online.

“I think we feel a little bit better about it because we really did all of it ourselves,” Murphy says. “We didn’t go to a studio. We actually did figure out how the songs were going to go ahead of time, then piece it all together and then record a bunch of stuff over it once we got the framework going.”

El Duo performs on Thursday, May 17 at 9 p.m. at the Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $7/adv, $10/door. 429-6994.

The post Preview: El Duo to Play Crepe Place appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

The Redwood Mountain Faire has a reputation for rounding up some of the finest musical talent in the area and mixing it with top-tier international acts guaranteed to get the party hopping. Always a high point of spring in Santa Cruz, the Faire has another stellar lineup scheduled for this year, including Tommy Castro, Orgone (above), Con Brio, the Coffis Brothers, Chuck Prophet, the Hackensaw Boys, and much more. Get your festival hat out, set some dollars aside for local arts and crafts, put on your best dancing flip-flops and get ready to kick off festival season in Santa Cruz style. 

INFO: 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3. Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton. $20-$45. redwoodmountainfaire.com. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Friday, May 25, to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the festival.

The post Giveaway: Redwood Mountain Faire appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of May 16, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 5/16

GOTH-ROCK

POPTONE

Have you ever found yourself complaining that no one starts any good goth bands anymore? Well, then, my friend, you haven’t yet heard of Poptone, a band formed last year by Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins, who hail from Love and Rockets, Bauhaus, the Bubblemen and Tones on Tail. Much of the starter material is pulled from Ash and Haskins’ catalog, but updated for 2018. The band releases its debut record this June, and based off its samples, it’s literally everything goths ever wanted in their life but were too shy to ask for. AARON CARNES

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $24.50/adv, $30/door. 429-4135.

WEDNESDAY 5/16

FOLK-ROCK

ANIMAL YEARS

Fist-pumping folk-rock is a well-established genre by now, and Brooklyn trio Animal Years has mastered the sound. There is an urgency and energy to their Lumineers-esque folk arena rock that will immediately get under your skin and make you run toward the nearest mountain. The band members think of their band name as a challenge: “Live your life in animal years,” they wrote in their bio—that is, live as though you have a short life span. They’ve turned these words into action by making quick strides in their career and playing folk as though it was the closing song in the credits of a Michael Bay action film. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $12/door. 429-6994.

THURSDAY 5/17

ROOTS

CROOKED JADES

Described by the Boston Herald as the “finest string band in America,” the Crooked Jades have been a favorite of underground roots fans for years. Now, much to the delight of longtime followers, the band has released Empathy Moves the Water, its first album of original material in over a decade. Led by one-time Santa Cruzan Jeff Kazor, the Jades blend high lonesome styles, pre-war gospel leanings, haunting instrumentation, and soulful vocals. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel. $15. 479-9777.

FRIDAY 5/18

HAWAIIAN

TAIMANE

Virtuoso ukulele player and composer Taimane first picked up the uke at the age of 5. Later honing her chops performing on the streets of Waikiki, she caught the attention of legendary Hawaiian vocalist Don Ho, and was invited to be on his show. These days, Taimane—whose name means “diamond” in Samoan—is a bonafide shredder whose range stretches from Led Zeppelin and Bach to island favorites and awe-inspiring original compositions that balance the delicate beauty and fiery power of the South Pacific. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $25/gen, $38/gold. 423-8209.

FRIDAY 5/18

PUNK

AGAINST ME

For two decades, Against Me has been at the forefront of punk. Not only with their mix of folk punk and electrified rock, but also with singer Laura Jane Grace’s 2012 coming out as a transgender woman, giving an icon to a new generation of punks who feel misplaced. Never ones to stagnate, their latest album, 2016’s Shape Shift With Me, features a change in Against Me’s style, particularly with Grace’s singing style having a more spoken-word/slam poetry rhyme. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8 p.m. Catalyst Club, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 429-4135.

FRIDAY 5/18

COUNTRY/ROCK

LACY J. DALTON

North American Country Music Association International Hall of Famer Lacy J. Dalton got her musical start in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The singer-songwriter went on to become a chart-topping, Grammy-nominated artist who helped define Bay Area folk and country in the ’70s and ’80s. This Friday, Dalton and her musical partner Dale Poune team up with local honky tonk jamband Edge of the West, which boasts several alumni of Dalton’s touring band, the Dalton Gang, for what promises to be a rocking, story-filled night. CJ

INFO: 8 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $20/adv, $25/door. 335-2800.

SATURDAY 5/19

WESTERN SWING

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

Asleep at the Wheel was formed in 1970 and has more than 20 albums, 20 singles on the Billboard chart, and 10 Grammy awards. Now some 48 years into the band’s career, listening to their songs is like taking a trip in a time machine to the ’70s when Southern roots was melding with the folk and singer-songwriter movement. There are a lot of classic country songs here that will resonate with modern audience—you’ve probably heard a lot of young bands trying to emulate this sound, because it’s just so damn good. AC

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $35/gen, $50/gold. 423-8209.

MONDAY 5/21

JAZZ

SCOTT AMENDOLA & PASCAL LeBOEUF DOUBLE BILL

A definitive force on the Bay Area jazz scene for two decades, Berkeley drummer Scott Amendola turns his mano-a-mano duo with Hammond B-3 expert Wil Blades into an all-out fracas, adding the unpredictable guitarist Jeff Parker and infinitely resourceful Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista into the fray. In an embarrassment of riches, the program also features the West Coast premiere of Santa Cruz-raised pianist/composer Pascal Le Boeuf’s Chamber Music America-commissioned “Ritual Being.” A nine-piece suite melding of jazz and European classical music, the extended work features San Francisco’s Friction String Quartet and LeBoeuf’s quintet with his twin brother Remy Le Boeuf on alto saxophone, tenor saxophonist Greg Johnson, bassist Giulio Xavier Cetto, and drummer Malachi Whitson. It’s a one-two punch of pugilistic creativity. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7 and 9 p.m. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $28.35/adv, $33.60/door. 427-2227.

IN THE QUEUE

LITTLE WINGS

Indie folk outfit. Wednesday at Michael’s on Main

COFFIS BROTHERS

Local roots/rock favorites. Friday at Moe’s Alley

LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III

Singer, songwriter, humorist pays tribute to his father. Friday at Kuumbwa

ARIEL PINK

Lo-fi singer-songwriter, instrumentalist. Saturday at Catalyst

RICHIE & ROSIE

Old time duo plays a house concert. Monday. Info: celticsociety.org

The post Music Picks May 16-22 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

In 1971, jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Ornette Coleman (above) recorded Broken Shadows, an album that featured jazz greats Don Cherry, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and more. The album wouldn’t be released, however, until 1982. Paying tribute to Coleman—and particularly that lost album—is Broken Shadows, a group comprising saxophonists Tim Berne and Chris Speed, bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King. Broken Shadows reworks iconic Coleman tunes, finding fresh angles along the way. 

INFO: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14. Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $26.25/adv, $31.50/door. 427-2227. WANT TO GO? Go to santacruz.com/giveaways before 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 7 to find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show.

The post Giveaway: Broken Shadows appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.

Live music highlights for the week of May 23, 2018.

WEDNESDAY 5/23

FOLK

THE LADLES

Masters of three-part harmony, the Ladles—comprising Katie Martucci, Caroline Kuhn, and Lucia Purpura-Pontoniere—blends swing, old-time, folk and more to create a handcrafted, downhome sound that brings to mind nights spent making music on the back porch while fireflies flit about and good friends catch up. The music is spacious and lovely. With instrumentation that impresses, harmonies that inspire, and an ability to capture the richness of the folk tradition without getting stuck trying to recreate the past, the Ladles is a quiet standout of the roots genre. Also on the bill: bluegrass outfit Mile Twelve. CAT JOHNSON

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Flynn’s Cabaret, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15/adv, $18/door. 335-2800.

WEDNESDAY 5/23

AMERICANA

DANGERMUFFIN

If you like your music lighthearted and free, then Dangermuffin is the treat your ears have been looking for. Since 2007, they have mixed folk, jazz, and jam band stylings with lyrics about family roots, the wisdom of nature and spiritual awakenings. Last year, the band released its sixth album, Heritage, an eight-song journey about “getting to the roots of humanity.” MAT WEIR

INFO: 7:30 p.m. Michael’s on Main, 2591 S. Main St., Soquel. $10. 479-9777.

THURSDAY 5/24

JAZZ

MADELEINE PEYROUX

When Madeleine Peyroux appeared on the jazz scene with her startling 1996 debut album Dreamland, she sounded eerily like Billie Holiday whether she was singing French chanson, vintage blues, 1920s pop tunes, or country standards. While she’s long since evolved out of her Lady Day affectations when it comes to her tone, her phrasing still lags well behind the beat, which can create delicious drama (or melodrama, depending on the tune). She puts her stamp on everything she sings, and her band is a state-of-the-art marvel, with guitarist Gregg Fine, bassist Paul Frazier, drummer Graham Hawthorne, and keyboardist Andy Ezrin, a player sought after by acts such as Steve Tyrell, New York Voices, and Joe Jackson. ANDREW GILBERT

INFO: 7:30 p.m.; Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz; $35/gen, $50/gold. 831-427-2227

THURSDAY 5/24

EXPERIMENTAL

CARLA DAL FORNO

Residing in the space between ambient music, experimental, indie rock and singer-songwriter territory, Carla dal Forno creates thoughtful, often gloomy, mood music perfect for rainy days, long nights and breakups. Hailing from Australia, dal Forno, who also contributes to the bands Fingers, Tarcar, and Mole House, currently resides in Berlin, but she’s built an international audience with her unique blend of styles and melancholy approach to love, loss and longing. This Thursday, dal Forno hits the Catalyst for what promises to be an emo-yet-engaging affair. Also on the bill: musician and photographer Tess Roby. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $12/adv, $15/door. 423-1338.

FRIDAY 5/25

POP-PUNK

DIET CIG

New York punk duo Diet Cig has the most adorable backstory, which involves one interrupting the other’s set at a house show, and them instantly becoming besties and starting their own saccharine sweet pop-punk band that some doctors might suggest you listen to when you are having a bad day. The lyrics are just heavy enough, without being too political, dealing with issues of anxiety and music scene politics. You can throw this on when just about any of your friends hops in the car and have a massive sing-along. AARON CARNES

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $15. 429-6994.

FRIDAY 5/25

LATIN-SKA

INSPECTOR

I had a friend from Mexico tell me that his county is “the land of ska.” It’s easy to see why he would say this when you see some of the hugely popular bands that have been filling venues throughout the country the past two decades. Inspector, from Monterrey, is a great example. The band is a legit pop act in Mexico that fuses elements of rock, catchy hooks, traditional Mexican music, and (most importantly) plenty of ska. They are one of a million Mexican bands doing this. Another one, Genitallica (also from Monterrey), will be opening the show. AC

INFO: 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $30. 479-1854.

SATURDAY 5/26

ROCK

LAUREN RUTH WARD

Described by the Los Angeles Times as “one of L.A.’s must-see frontwomen,” Lauren Ruth Ward is a psych-rock, blues-dripping rock and roller with a show-stopping voice and magnetic delivery that demands attention. A one-time hairstylist from Baltimore, Ward has reinvented herself as one of the city’s standout artists with a sound that spans the Black Angels, classic ‘70s rock, Chrissie Hynde and Lucinda Williams. Ward is rough, edgy and a rising star of the SoCal music scene and beyond. Also on the bill: Yip Yops, an alt-rock outfit out of California’s Coachella Valley. CJ

INFO: 9 p.m. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $8/adv, $10/door. 429-6994.

MONDAY 5/28

POST-ROCK

GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR

If you have a few hours to kill, you might want to sit down and listen to a Godspeed You Black Emperor song. In this age of instant gratification, you might be tempted to shut it off after the first 10 minutes of buildup, because you have 50 other things begging for your attention. But I suggest you stick it out, because this band is going somewhere with the quiet arpeggios, dramatic tension, droney guitars and eerie soundscapes. The Canadian experimental group, which started back in 1994, is really good at taking listeners on a journey that completely transcends the pop music experience. And live, it’s that much more spiritual. AC

INFO: 8 p.m. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $34.50. 423-8209.

TUESDAY 5/29

FOLK PUNK

LARRY AND HIS FLASK

Punk. Folk. Bluegrass. Gypsy. However one categorizes Larry and his Flask, it’s right. For 15 years, these genre-bending musicians have been some of the hardest-working players in the underground scene. From busking on the streets to playing restaurants to playing large venues with acts like Trampled by Turtles, Larry and his Flask has continuously proven the band is a force to be reckoned with. Their live performance is an explosion of energy, with members running around on stage, jumping in the air and swapping instruments mid-song just for kicks. MW

INFO: 9 p.m. Catalyst. 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $14/adv, $16/door. 429-4135.

IN THE QUEUE

TODD ALBRIGHT

12-string guitar country blues. Wednesday at Crepe Place

ALPHA BLONDY

Socially and politically-conscious reggae. Thursday at Catalyst

CARNAVAL: THE TOUR

Las Cafeteras, Making Movies and Alex Cuba celebrate Carnaval. Thursday at Moe’s Alley

CALIFORNIA BEACH BOYS

Tribute to the Beach Boys. Saturday at Michael’s on Main

CHIRGILCHIN

Renowned Tuvan throat-singers. Saturday at Rio Theatre

The post Music Picks May 23-29 appeared first on Good Times Santa Cruz.